Research

Focus Points

  1. The shape is the most important factor to consider. Certain shapes are stronger than others while other shapes are more aerodynamically sound, we must strike a balance which requires more research to be done.
  2. The dimensions and weight of AEV have the biggest impact on its success. We need to better understand where to balance the weight and how big it should be overall.
  3. The power usage of the motors is a point to research. We are limited by the battery we can use so we must learn to maximize its power without over straining it or using the power in an inefficient manner.
  4. Cost is the final consideration that all other areas must focus on, every aspect of our research must consider cost as a factor. The goal is to build the best AEV possible within a budget so all our research must be based on cost.

Preliminary R&D

  • So far the team has completed the programming basics lab, which taught the team the essential code for making the motors move and the AEV travel. (See Appendix B) This lab ran the team through some basic code to test the motors function. This ensured the team will be able to move the AEV once it is finished. The first lab provided the team with a prototype AEV that was fit to run on the track as well as basic code that could run the AEV motors. The team also learned that even though the motors are powered that does not mean the propeller will spin immediately. It takes time for the motor to spin the propeller. This was caused by the effects of friction and the delay in the motor reaching a high enough power
  • A base prototype of the AEV was built using the provided kit to give the team a sense of what we were building and to test the code being produced in the labs. The AEV can only track its movements using reflective sensors and those sensors have to be properly tested to be used properly. The team learned to run the reflective sensor test to ensure the Arduino will work properly each week. During the process of learning about the AEV it was important to think about the future of the project.
  • It was important to note that a revolution had 8 marks and 1 mark is 0.4875 inches. The code in this lab introduced some potential problems with the AEV. Specifically with the commands used. The runMotor command provided power to the motors however the delay in the spin-up can cause a delay in the AEV moving. The break command did not react instantly, it takes time to slow down the AEV, and this introduced inaccuracy to the AEV moving and could harm it in future scenarios.
  • The third task the team preformed was the creation of better design for the AEV. Each team member designed a prototype of an AEV and the team gathered to discuss them and forge ideas from each one into a better team design. The prototypes and team design can be found in Appendix A images 1-4.
  • The team could not design a better AEV without first knowing how the base prototype ran. The base prototype was run along the ceiling track, in lab 4, using the team’s code so the team could evaluate an unmodified model. The running of the base gave the team the insight it needed to further evaluate the designs from lab 3.
  • The final lab task was completed by screening and scoring the lab 3 designs. Screening and Scoring are ways of quickly evaluating and discarding various ideas which were useful in narrowing down the teams AEV design to the best choices.

Advanced R&D

  • The two aR&D tests run allowed Group F to gather a deeper understanding of the forces that power and control the AEV
  • The Battery Analysis test gave Group F an deeper understanding of the battery that provides power to the AEV, specifically the amount of power required for each run. This will allow group F to accurately predict the amount of energy our final design will require and this will help us reduce costs during the final performance test.
  • During the Battery Analysis test the battery was found to use .015 volts for every 99.83 inches traveled. The team also discovered the effectiveness of power breaking the AEV by changing the direction of the motors to reverse the AEV.
  • The second aR&D was the Energy Analysis test, this test gave group F a better understanding of the forces the act on the AEV such as the forces of the propellers and the force of friction. The team learned which of these tests acted with the most power on the AEV and the energy cost of using different forms of stopping on the AEV
  • It was discovered that the force the propellers provided was much greater than the force of friction on the AEV. The AEV moves over such a short distance that aerodynamic forces such as drag seem to have minimal impact on the AEV. So group F will move forward focusing primarily on the force the propeller provides both in moving and stopping the AEV.